Ed Persike: Beekman should resign from LAFCO board

There has been much discussion regarding Hughson Mayor Matt Beekman’s vote on farmland mitigation policy as part of the Local Agency Formation Commission. LAFCO’s five votes are divided among three entities – county (2), cities (2) and one at-large. Each entity has a special constituency. The city representatives are selected from among city councils of the county’s nine cities. The county’s two seats are filled by sitting supervisors, and the independent at-large member is appointed by the mayors and supervisors.

Almost all of the county’s cities voiced their displeasure with the farmland mitigation agenda item prior to the March 27 meeting. It makes little difference why the cities disliked the measure, but they did.

Beekman voted against the overwhelming will of the cities he was supposed to represent. Now there is a price to pay. Due to his infidelity to his constituency, the mayors representing the cities are exercising their rights and asking for his immediate removal from LAFCO. Beekman needs to recognize this action is based on his failure to represent his constituents – the mayors and councils – and step aside. He should resign and spare the community the drama of his infidelity.

Editor’s note: The LAFCO meeting scheduled for April 22 has been canceled.

This story was originally published April 21, 2015 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Ed Persike: Beekman should resign from LAFCO board."